Enclosure device



Feb. 9, 1937.

W. J. CONDON ENCLOSURE DEVICE Filed Jan. l1, 1936 2 sheets-'sheet 1 mgm.;

Feb. 9, 1937. w. J. coNDoN 2,070,471

ENCLOSURE DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 19:56 l 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provi-de a novel and highly practical form of removable or retractible enclosure for the entrance area of a store or other building.

The invention has a specific application to stores of the chain variety wherein it is customary to deliver goods, including the perishable commodities, in which the store deals, from the central depots or sources at periods, such as in the early morning, outside of the regular hours at which the store is open for business. It has been found impracticable to provide the delivery truck drivers with access to the interior of the stores, and it is customary for the delivery men to deposit the supplies on the exterior of the building where they are exposed to depredations yand petty thievery. There is in this system no possibility for adequate check-up on delivered goods, and the losses to the stores are heavy, running into thousands of dollars annually.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an enclosure device which may be adjusted to and from a position in the interior of the building surrounding the door area, so that the delivery men may be provided with keys for admission to the interior of the building Without, however, giving them access to the body of the store. For practical purposes, an inner enclosure of this type must be of a character that will permit ready adjustment to the operative position and equally ready retraction into a non-obstructing position so that during the regular hours normal access is afforded to the store. It is also necessary to provi-de means for securely locking the enclosure device in the operative position. My invention contemplates the provision of an improved enclosure device of this character which shall meet all the operating requirements, and which may be constructed and installed at reasonably low expense.

In the attached drawings:

Figure l is an elevational View of an enclosure device made in accordance with my invention, the enclosure being shown in its operative position;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary elevational views illustrating a detail of the construction;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a desirable form of locking means, and

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the electric control system.

With reference to the drawings., I is a platform supported by suitable brackets 2, 2 and suspension elements 3, 3 above the entrance door 4 and in the interior of the building, the suspension elements 3 being suitably secured at their upper ends to the ceiling, which is indicated at 5. The platform I supports an electric motor 6, which is connected through suitable gearing 'I to a shaft 8 journaled in bearings 9 also mounted on the platform I. The shaft 8 comprises twosections united by a suitable friction clutch I I, one section of this shaft carrying an element of the gearing l, and the other carrying a Worm I2. This worm is operatively associated with a Worm wheel I3 on a shaft I4 exten-ding at right angles to the shaft 8, see Fig. 2, this shaft being journaled in suitable bearings I5, l5 on the platform I and having secured thereto a plurality of Winding drums I6, which in the present instance are four in number.

Suspended from the ceiling 5 in a position above each of the drums I6 is a pulley I'I which functions to guide a plurality of cables I8 to the respective drums. The cables I8 extend respectively toward and beyond the four corners of the platform I and downwardly over pulleys I9 which are suspended from the ceiling 5 at points beyond the edges of the platform. The cables I8 pass downwardly from the pulleys I9 through apertures or recesses in a series of bars 2| and are attached at their lower ends to the lowermost bar 22 of the series. The bars 2| and 22 are in the present instance of U-shape, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and are arranged in assembly to embrace the door area. In the operative position of these bars, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the top bar 2| of the series is suspended by three sets of links 23-24 connecting respectively to the front and sides of the bar from the upper ends of three brackets 25 mounted on vand extending upwardly from the platform I. The links 23 and 24 of each set are respectively pivotally connected to the said top bar 2| and to the associated bracket 25, and are pivotally joined together at their adj-acent ends so that when the bar 2| is elevated, the links will fold about their pivotal connection toward each other. Each of the other bars 2| and the bar 22 is connected to the next higher bar of the series by similar though smaller sets of links 26-2l. The arrangement is such that when the bars are in their lowered or operative position, as shown in Fig. l, the bar 22 rests upon or lies adjacent to the iioor surface 28. As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the bars 2| and 22 in the present instance are cross-sectionally of angle formation.

The construction and mode of operation of the links 26-21 is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Each of the links 25 is pivotally connected at 29 to a hinge bracket 3| suitably secured to the under side oi the upper one of the two connected bars. The link 2l is similarly pivotally connected at 32 to a corresponding hinge bracket-33 secured to the lower of the two connected bars. The links 26 and 2l are pivotally connected together at their lower and upper ends respectively as indicated at Sli. A leaf spring 35 secured to the bracket 3| exerts pressure on the link 2G tending to force it transversely from its normal eX- tended plane, so that when, by means of the cables I8, the lower of the two bars is elevated, the links 26 and 2l will be forced from their normal dead center position, thereby permitting the continued elevation of the said lower bar until, as shown in Fig. 4, this lower bar engages the under side of the next higher bar. During this upward movement of the lower bar of the connected pair, the links 26 and 2l willfold progressively toward each other until they eventually assume the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4. The spring 35 insures the folding together of the links 26 and 21 in the proper direction. The links 23-24, as previously set forth, are similarly constructed and are adapted tofold together in like manner as the upper bar 2| of the series is elevated.

It will be apparent, therefore, that if the motor 5 is operated in a direction drawing the cables I8 onto the drums I6, the lower bar 22 will be drawn upwardly into engagement with the adjacent bar 2|. This bar 2| will then be lifted by the bar 22 into engagement with the next higher bar, and the entire series of bars will in this manner be progressively elevated in a relatively collapsed condition until the entire series lies in a compact mass at the level of or above the platform I, thereby leaving the entrance area unobstructed. For returning the device to the operative position, the motor 5 is actuated in the opposite direction, thereby progressively lowering the bars into their original positions supported by the links 23-22 and 2S-2'L As shown in Fig. 2, the extremities of each of the bars 2! and 22 are provided with T-shaped shoes 36 which are slidably engaged in a correspondingly slotted guide strip 31 secured in vertical position to the wall surface at opposite sides of the door 5. The bars are thus in effect locked to the wall surface and are prevented4 from swinging awayfrom the latter. Provision is also made for locking the lower bar 22 of the series at or near the floor level. This device, `as shown in Fig. 5, consists of a hasp element 38 adjustably secured at 39 in a recess L!! in the floor. This hasp element when elevated, as shown in Fig. 5, lies in proximity to the bar 22, and the latter is apertured to permit the passing therethrough of a padlock 42, which also passes through the hasp 38 and thereby locks the bar 22 at the floor. If required, such locking means may be provided at the front of the bar 22 and at each side thereof. Other means for locking the device in the operative position may be employed without departure from the invention.

The friction clutch II provides means for slippage between that part of the shaft 8 directly connected to the motor I5 and the adjoining part which carries the worm I2, so that when the device has moved either to the lowered or operative position or into the retracted or inoperative position, continued operation of the motor S will cause no damage to the parts. I prefer, however, to employ means for automatically deenergizing the motor 6 when the bars'ZI and 22 have moved into either of the two positions named.

This device consists of a switch 43 mounted in the present instance near the top of the device 'which is operatively connected through a finger Il with a cable or belt t5, this cable 45 operating on two suitably supported pulleys 46 and 4l. The cable 45 carries two lugs or sleeves 48 and t9 which are arranged for engagement with a lug 5I secured in the present instance to the lower bar 22 of the series, see Fig. 1. When the bar 22 moves into its lowered position and as shown in Fig. 1, the lug 5I engages the sleeve 2S, thereby moving the cable 25 on its pulleys in the direction indicated by the arrow at the bottom of the said gure. This effects an actuation of lthe switch 43, breaking the circuit of the motor S and deenergizing the latter. Similarly when'the'lower bar 22 of the series approaches its elevated position, the lug 5I engages the sleeve 28, thereby causing a reverse movement oi the cable i5 reactuating the switch 43 and again deenergizing the motor 6. By reference to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the motor circuit comprises a manually-actuated switch 52 which when thrown to the left from the position in which it is shown and with the switch I3 remaining as shown will close the motor circuit. This position of the switch 43 corresponds to the position in which it is shown in Fig. l, wherein the bars 2| and 22 are in the operative position. Movement of the switch 52 to the left as described and the subsequent energization of the motor 6 will cause a rotation of the shaft I4 ruch as to draw in the cables E8 upon the drums IS, thereby elevating the bars 2| and 22. As the bars approach their normal elevated or retracted position, the lug 5| will engage the sleeve 48 on the cable 45, thereby moving the cable in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6 and actuating the switch d3 to break the motor circuit. Reverse movement of the switch E2 into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6 will again complete the motor circuit and will effect operation of the motor in the reverse direction, lowering the bars 2| and 22 until such time as the lug 5I engages the sleeve 49, whereupon the switch 43 will be actuated to again break the motor circuit. It will be understood that the worm l2 and worin wheel I3 will not overrun, and will prevent the weight of the bars 'T'i and 22 under any conditions from turning the shaft I4. Thus there is no requirement for any special means for locking the bars in the re- *racted position, although such eXtra locking means may be provided if desired.

In order to conceal the operating parts of the mechanism located on or above the platform I prefer to provide a housing 53 which extends downwardly from the ceiling 5, as shown in Fig. I, and which as shown in Fig. 2 embraces the platform I. In the retracted position, the bars 2| and 22 will be elevated above the lower edge of the housing 3|, so that the device presents an unobjectionable appearance.

I claim:

l. In a retractible enclosure device for the entrance area of a room interior, the combination with an articulated enclosure structure consisting of a plurality of transverse members shaped to define the normally open sides of said area and means for flexibly connecting sai-d members in series to permit extension and contraction of the said structure as a whole, of means for supporting an end member of said series in an elevated position so that when the structure is extended the other end member lies adjacent to the floor surface, vertical guides for the extremities of said members positioned at the wall surfaces on opposite sides of said entrance in which said extremities are slidably retained, and means connected to the lower end of said structurefor elevating and lowering the structure into and from the contracted position.

2. In a retractible enclosure device for the entrance area of a room interior, the combination with an articulated enclosure structure consisting of a plurality of transverse members shaped to define the normally open sides of said area and means for flexibly connecting said members in series to permit extension and contraction of the said structure as a whole, of means for supporting an end member of said series in an elevated position so that when the structure is extended the other end member lies adjacent to the floor surface, vertical guides for the extremities of said members positioned at the wall surfaces on opposite sides of said entrance in which said extremities are slidably retained, a platform located above said structure and forming a closure for the top of said enclosure, and means including elements supported on said platform for elevating and lowering the structure into and from the contracted position.

3. A retractible enclosure for separating an interior area embracing a doorway from the remainder of the interior, said enclosure comprising a plurality of elongated transversely extending members each shaped to define the normally open sides of said area, means for flexibly connecting said members in vertical series to form an articulated structure capable of extension and contraction as a Whole in the vertical direction, means for supporting one end member of said series in an elevated position so that when the structure is extended the other end member lies adjacent to the floor surface, means for securing the ends of said members for vertical movement at the wall surfaces at opposite sides of the doorway respectively, and means connected with the last-named end of said structure for elevating and lowering the structure into and from the contracted position.

4. A retractible enclosure for separating an interior area embracing a doorway from the remainder of the interior, said enclosure comprising a plurality of elongated transversely extending members each shaped to dene the normally open sides of said area, means for flexibly connecting said members in vertical series to form an articulated structure capable of extension and contraction as a whole in the vertical direction, means for supporting one end member of said series in an elevated position so that when the structure is extended the other end member lies adjacent to the floor surface, means for securing the ends of said members for vertical movement at the wall surfaces at opposite sides of the doorway respectively, means connected with the lastnamed end of said structure for elevating and lowering the structure into and from the contracted position, and means for releasably locking the said lower end member at the floor surface.

5. A retractible enclosure for separating an interior area embracing a doorway from the remainder of the interior, said enclosure comprising a plurality of elongated transversely extending members each shaped to define the normally open sides of said area, means for exibly conmeans for supporting one end memberof said series in an elevated position so that when the structure is extended the other end member lies adjacent to the floor surface, means for securing the ends of said members for vertical movement at the wall surface at opposite sides of the doorway respectively, means for elevating and lowering the structure into and from the contracted position, said last-named means comprising a plurality of cables extending upwardly from the lower ends of the structure, and mechanism mounted within the enclosed area and at the top of said structure for drawing up and paying out said cables.

6. A retractible enclosure for separating an interior area embracing a doorway from the remainder of the interior, said enclosure comprising a plurality of elongated transversely extending members each shaped to denne the normally open sides of said area, means for flexibly connecting said members in vertical series to form an articulated structure capable of extension and contraction as a whole in the vertical direction, means for supporting one end member of said series in an elevated position so that when the structure is extended the other end member lies adjacent to the floor surface, means for securing the ends of said members for vertical movement at the wall surfaces at opposite sides of the doorway respectively, means connected with the last-named end of said structure for elevating and lowering the structure into and from the contracted position, said exible connectingmeans comprising for each adjacent pair of said members a pair of links respectively pivotally connected to said members and to each other, said links being adapted to fold together upon their pivotal connection when the said adjacent members are drawn together, and resilient means operating on said links when the latter are extended and tending to adjust them toward the folded position.

7. A retractible enclosure for separating an interior area embracing a doorway from the remainder of the interior, said enclosure comprising a plurality of elongated transversely extending members each shaped to dene the normally open sides of said area, means for flexibly connecting said members in vertical series to form an articulated structure capable of extension and contraction as a whole in the vertical direction, means for supporting one end member of said series in an elevated position so that when the structure is extended the other end member lies adjacent to the oor surface, means for securing the ends of said members for vertical movement at the wall surfaces at opposite sides of the doorway respectively, a platform depending from the ceiling within the area embraced by said structure and closing the top of the latter, and mechanism mounted on said platform for elevating and lowering the structure into and from the contracted position.

8. A retractible enclosure for separating an interior area embracing a doorway from the remainder of the interior, said enclosure comprising a plurality of elongated transversely extending members each shaped to define the normally open sides of said area, means for flexibly connecting said members in vertical series to form an articulated structure capable of extension and contraction as a whole in the vertical direction, means for supporting one end member of said series in an elevated position so that when the structure is extended the other end member lies adapted to be taken up and paid out by the latter, means for connecting said cables to the lower end member of said structure at spaced points longitudinally of the latter, a plurality of guide pulleys for each of said cables, and means for reversely operating said motor to effect extension and contraction of said structure.

WILLIAM J. CONDON. 

